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With more than 140 degrees to choose from, UALR offers its students the opportunity to learn from top-ranked faculty and provides invaluable internship opportunities in several in-demand career fields.

Speech Communication: BA Course Descriptions

CORE COURSES

1300. Speech Communication

A course to help the student effectively deliver an oral presentation to an adult audience; listen to and critique objectively the oral presentations of others; effectively participate in one-to-one communication experiences using techniques of active listening, conflict resolution, and information gathering; effectively organize, participate in, and lead small groups as they problem-solve; and recognize and use effective oral language as a tool of sound reasoning. Student performance is emphasized along with lecture, discussion, and self-instructional study center exercises. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities.

2310. Human Communication Concepts

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
A deeper insight into Communication theories and concepts introduced in Speech Communication 1300. This course serves as a prerequisite for most courses required for the Speech Communication major and minor.

2311. Introduction to Communication Research

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Prepares students to understand the research and application focus of a major in communication. Topics include asking good research questions, the role of case studies in communication research, and understanding basic principles. The focus of this course is to enable students to apply theory in meaningful ways to better understand real life situations.

3320. Advanced Public Speaking

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
A basic public-speaking course for individuals in business, industry, and the professions. Individual and group exercise.

4312/5312. Intercultural Communication

Prerequisites: Speech Communication 2310 or declared major/minor in international studies.
An examination of cultural variables in communication and how these variables affect human communication. A study of the differences in perception, language, and nonverbal habits and how these differences can be interpreted and overcome in communicating across cultures.

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION COURSES

3316. Interviewing

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Study and practice in interviewing skills in a wide range of contexts, including selection, appraisal, discipline, negotiation, research, and media interviews. Students practice the verbal and nonverbal communication skills involved in interviews.

3322. Small Group Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
The principles of group interaction are studied and applied in a series of small-group discussions dealing with information gathering, problem solving, and decision making. Activities identify the effect of an individual’s characteristics on the group and of group action on the individual.

3323. Conflict Management

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Theory and practice in practical argument. Emphasis on conflict management in professional and home settings. Group and individual role playing exercises.

3330. Professional Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Development of the studentās ability to effectively interact in professional business situations. Topics include listening, coaching/mentoring, dealing with difficult people, delegation, formal and informal communication, civility, and customer service. Focus on using ināclass activities to develop effective professional communication skills.

3340. Communication Ethics for the Professional

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
This course explores the common ethical questions encountered in business and professional settings. Topics include whistle blowing, employee rights, public relations, ethical codes, sexual harassment, leadership ethics, and organizational legitimacy. The focus is on illustrating the
importance of ethics to the professional through practical applications of communicationābased principles.

4311/5311. Organizational Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 2310
Traditional and modern concepts of oral communication behavior in organizations. A study of communication nets found in various business, industrial, educational, and social organizations. The influence of organizational theory on communication patterns and tasks.

UPPER-LEVEL COMMUNICATION ELECTIVES

3300. Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 2310
Experiences with dyads and small-group work in human interaction. Emphasis on unstructured group process and the development of interpersonal skills through self-actualization.

3315. Gender Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 2310 or declared minor in gender studies.
A study of the variable of gender as it influences verbal and nonverbal interaction between men and women. Why the verbal and nonverbal codes are different and how they may be modified to produce good communication.

3350. Nonverbal Communication

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Examination of codes of nonverbal communication within personal, interpersonal, and professional contexts. Topics include the functional perspective of nonverbal communication; factor of appearance, body language, space, touch, paralanguage, artifactics, and time; interpersonal attractiveness; credibility; dominance; and impression management. Focus on using major nonverbal communication theories and concepts to develop a heightened awareness of the role of nonāverbals in human interaction.

4100, 4201. Independent Study

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 2310 or consent of instructor
Students will read and do research in a selected area of speech communication studies. Projects and papers must be approved by the instructor prior to registration.

4310/5310. Investigations into Communication Research

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 4300
Studies of communication research and methods, such as semantic differential and content analysis. Students learn by reading, critiquing, and conducting investigations into communicative behavior.

4313/5313. Seminar: Studies in Communication

Prerequisites: Speech Communication 2310 or consent of instructor.
An intensive investigation of verbal and nonverbal communication theories and practices. Topic varies. Designed for advanced majors and others with special study interest in communication. May be repeated for credit.

4314. Communication Skill Center Internship

Prerequisites: Applied experience in communication training and professional application of theory. Seven hours-a-week minimum commitment plus a reflective portfolio for 3 hours credit. May be retaken once for credit with consent of CSC director.

4315. Cooperative Education in Speech Communication

Prerequisites: junior standing (2.50 overall GPA and 3.00 within speech communication department, minimum of 18 hours in speech communication and approval of the internship director.
Students will work in a paid position in an organization giving opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge and develop communication skills. Two hundred hours minimum for 3 hours credit. May be taken for up to 6 hours credit.

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 1300
Special topics in organizational communication including but not limited to organizational identification, risk and issue management, organizational change, or critical approaches to organizational communication. Focus on giving students an inādepth understanding of a specialized aspect of organizational communication.

4350/7350. Effective Crisis Communication

This course investigates and analyzes instances of effective and ineffective crisis communication. Students will examine the internal organizational processes and the larger environment within which various organizations exist focusing on issues such as stakeholders, legal environments, and the larger social and cultural contexts.

CAPSTONE COURSES

4300. Senior Seminar

Prerequisites: Speech Communication 2310 and 15 hours in speech communication
This capstone theory class integrates learning about human communication in various contexts. It is an in-depth study of contemporary and traditional perspectives of human communication, and synthesizes major concepts in human communication theory development.

4110. Senior Presentation

Prerequisite: Speech Communication 4300
A one-hour course for those finishing their major in the speech communication department. Students will be required to develop a project relevant to one or more of the major competency areas in the department (dyadic communication, small group communication, public speaking, listening, or critical approaches to communication), and present the project to an appropriate audience. Credit/no credit grading. It is required during the final year and is offered in sequence only in the spring.